Finals On Agenda For New Sharks Coach

New East Fremantle coach Liam Anthony believes his team has the ability to play finals in the 2027 Sullivan Logistics WAFL season.

Anthony has been appointed for the next two seasons, signalling a return to The Good Grocer Park where he played 78 games from 2006 to 2017, either side of a 58-match career with North Melbourne in the AFL.

“I am excited and honoured to be given the chance to coach a club I have loved for so long,” Anthony said.

“I have been coaching at CBC and a few weeks ago Shane Woewodin from the club came and had a chat to me and mentioned the vacant coaching role.

“I didn’t think I could do it with work and family commitments, but I still got my application in.

“Going through the process it dawned on me I really wanted to do this.

“People like former premiership coach Tony Micale urged me to push for the role which was encouraging.”

Anthony’s appointment comes a month after Bill Monaghan stepped down with a year to run on his contract, having led the Sharks to the 2023 premiership during his eight years as coach.

The 39-year-old, who left East Fremantle having been recruited to North Melbourne as a mature ager in 2008, headed back to the Sharks in 2015.

He went on to win the Lynn Medal as the club’s fairest and best in 2016.

After retiring from the WAFL at the end of 2017 he joined Fremantle CBC as a player before turning his hand to coaching.

Anthony coached the reserves side for two years before taking over the league team in 2021, leading them to a premiership in only his second year at the helm.

The challenge at the Sharks is full of unknowns.

“I have still yet to get my head around the full playing list,” he said.

“The Colts won the flag, and I am hoping some of those players can put their hands up and play senior footy.”

He believes finals in 2027 are achievable despite the club finishing ninth this year with just five wins.

“I do think there’s enough there for us to play finals footy if we can solidify the playing group with more mature, experienced ex-AFL players,” Anthony explained.

“We have plenty of quality players still at the club and I think Jack Cleaver is a star of the competition.”

Then there’s the prospect of luring de-listed West Coast Eagle Jack Williams back to Shark Park.

“Most clubs have had a look at Jack, “he said.

“But he is a Sharks man which doesn’t hurt.

“When I spoke with him, he said his intention is to play AFL and I said that’s great, but if it doesn’t work out in the short term, I would do my best to help him get back into the system.”